Judith Stofer Block

Judy Block passed away on Wednesday, June 26, 2024, at her home in Chicago after a long struggle with dementia. She was 83 years old. Judy was born on June 17, 1941, in Lakewood, Ohio. The daughter of Peg and Gordon Stofer, her childhood was spent in the west Cleveland suburb of Rocky River, Ohio, where she was the older sister to three brothers. Judy grew up a true child of the ‘50s, which was reflected in a childhood straight out of the movies that included sock hops, cheerleading, whitewall tires, root beer floats and burgers at Bearden’s. After graduating from Rocky River High School, Judy headed west to Evanston, IL to become a Wildcat at her beloved Northwestern University and graduated with a B.S. in Speech Education. This began a life-long love affair with her alma mater for whom one could say Judy “bled purple.” At Northwestern, Judy was a proud member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, which fostered some of her most treasured and enduring friendships. Post college, Judy decided Chicago was home and she settled in as a teacher in the Glencoe Public School system. In 1966, a fateful night on the Chicago social scene led her to her husband of 48 years, Philip D. Block III (P.D.). Married in 1967, they moved to their Chicago apartment of 57 years, raised their family there and it’s where she remained until her passing.

Judy was deeply committed to making her community a better place and became a trailblazing leader and philanthropist in her adopted city. She was Chairman of many boards including the Chicago Child Care Society (now Family Focus), Know Your Chicago, The Field Foundation of Illinois, the Child Welfare League of America, the Visiting Committee of the School of Social Service Administration at the University of Chicago and she became the first woman to chair one of Chicago’s major cultural institutions when she was named Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Field Museum in 1997. Judy dedicated time to countless other organizations as well including serving as a Trustee at Northwestern University, on the Executive Committee of the Chicago Community Trust, and as a board member of the Chicago Foundation for Education, the United Way, and the Jane Addams Juvenile Court Foundation. She was also a Court Appointed Special Advocate in the Juvenile Courts. Her dedication to service and accomplishments in philanthropy culminated in 2007 when she was recognized by the Governor of Illinois as an Order of Lincoln Laureate, the state's highest civilian honor for professional achievement and public service. As a volunteer, Judy was known for the candor, creativity, hard work and passion she brought to every position she held.

Despite the considerable time she committed to her volunteer roles, Judy’s first priority was her family and friends. She raised two children, Philip D. Block IV (“Flip”) and Margaret Block Stineman (“Margie”), was a fantastic cook and had a delectable family meal prepared nightly, rarely missed a child’s sporting event and covered all the bases of motherhood. Judy was a loyal friend to many, never met a party she didn’t love, and was well-known for her smile, her infectious laugh and for working the room with the best of them. Like the rest of her family, she was a sports fan, and loved attending Bears, Blackhawks and Northwestern Football games, and she could occasionally be found on the golf course (and often in the sand trap) or fly-fishing with her family in Northern Wisconsin.

Judy was the daughter of Margaret Lea Stofer and Gordon Fairchild Stofer; loving wife to Philip D. Block III (“P.D.”); loyal sister to Kermit Stofer (“Chip”), Gordon Stofer (“Chub”) and Boyd Stofer; devoted mother to Philip D. Block IV (“Flip”, married to Susanna) and Margaret Block Stineman (“Margie”, married to Kevin); and was loved as “Grandy” by five grandchildren, Vanessa Block, Margaret Stineman (“Meg”), Philip D. Block V (“P.J.”), Stofer Stineman and Hope Stineman. A memorial service will be held on Monday, July 15 at 3:30 pm at St. James Cathedral (https://www.saintjamescathedral.org) at 65 East Huron Street (entrance on Wabash Avenue) in Chicago, followed by a reception at a private location. Validated parking (stickers available at the church) will be offered at ROW Garage at 50 East Ohio Street and Ohio Ontario Self Park at 33 West Ontario Street. In lieu of flowers, the family appreciates any donations be sent to Family Focus (www.family-focus.org), The Field Museum of Natural History (www.fieldmuseum.org) or Northwestern University (www.northwestern.edu).